Specifying Your Target Monitor

If you are developing Web pages in Word, it is a good idea to have in mind who the user is. The user, obviously, is the person who will view your Web page. However, there are certain assumptions that must be made about the user, and those assumptions will affect how you put your Web page together.

One of the prime considerations is what resolution of monitor the user will be using. This affects the presentation of graphics and text on their page. For instance, a graphic that shows up nicely centered on your screen at a high resolution may not give the desired impact if the user is working at a lower resolution.

You can instruct Word to make certain assumptions about the user's monitor resolution as you are developing Web pages. You set the target resolution by following these steps:

1. Display the Word Options dialog box. (In Word 2007 click the Office button and then click Word Options. In Word 2010 or a later version, display the File tab of the ribbon and then click Options.)
2. Click Advanced at the left of the dialog box.
3. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the available options.
4. Click on the Web Options button. Word displays the Web Options dialog box.
5. Make sure the Pictures tab is selected. (See Figure 1.)



Figure 1. The Pictures tab of the Web Options dialog box.

6. Using the Screen Size drop-down list, select the screen resolution you believe most of your users will have.
7. Click on OK to close the Web Options dialog box.
8. Click on OK to close the Word Options dialog box.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (13111) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Specifying Your Target Monitor.